---
title: "Liftgate"
description: "A liftgate is a piece of trucking equipment that allows cargo to be lowered to the ground from the back of a truck. Liftgates are used when cargo cannot be unloaded any other way, such as with a loading dock."
language: en
canonical: https://www.flexport.com/glossary/liftgate/
lifecycle: live
dateModified: 2026-10-08T14:58:48Z
topics:
  - "Trucking"
---

# Liftgate

A liftgate is a piece of trucking equipment that allows cargo to be lowered to the ground from the back of a truck. Liftgates are used when cargo cannot be unloaded any other way, such as with a loading dock.

## What is a liftgate?

A liftgate is a piece of trucking equipment that allows cargo to be lowered to the ground from the back of a truck. Liftgates are used in situations where the cargo cannot be unloaded in any other way, like with a loading dock.

The trucker will charge a [liftgate fee](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/liftgate-fee/) if they must provide a liftgate at a delivery destination.

![Black hydraulic liftgate platform mounted at the open rear of a white box truck, with a red arrow labeled "Liftgate on the back of a truck"](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ynj1yl20/development/e7701d2e6fb8993213b77bd759fd02b8bfc4025d-500x360.png?w=500&fm=jpg&q=75&fit=max)

## When do you need a liftgate?

You'll typically need a liftgate when the delivery address has no loading dock, such as a retail store, a residential address or a small business with street-level access. Without one, the driver can't safely move palletized cargo from the truck bed to the ground.

## How do you arrange a liftgate?

Request the liftgate before the truck is dispatched, since carriers often schedule equipment in advance. If you don't flag it and the driver arrives without one, the delivery may be delayed or rebooked. Liftgates have weight limits, so tell your carrier about heavy or oversized pallets.

Back to the [full glossary](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/).

---

*This is a markdown version of [https://www.flexport.com/glossary/liftgate/](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/liftgate/) for AI/LLM consumption.*